Head of A + E networks warns of possible power outage at AT & T, saying AT & T is using "a new position to gain an unfair advantage for its own channels" – Deadline

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Another group of cable networks is facing a potential power outage on AT & T platforms, including DirecTV. One month after Viacom was able to enter into a new distribution agreement with AT & T after very difficult negotiations, which helped prevent a power outage, A + E Networks is found in a similar situation.

In an internal memo sent today, Paul Buccieri, president of the A + E Networks group, which includes A & E Network, History and Lifetime, presents to his team a report of the talks with AT & T. "We are negotiating with AT & T, which owns DirecTV, and with the approach of the deadline of our contract, we are still far from reaching an agreement. "

The current transportation contract of the two companies will expire on Tuesday. In his letter, Buccieri accuses the newly assembled AT & T for stalemate.

"While I respect them and respect our long-standing relationship, AT & T has not demonstrated its willingness to negotiate in a reasonable manner," said Buccieri. "The agreement we seek is based on the same fair market conditions that allowed us to enter into agreements with many other suppliers. AT & T simply has not yet demonstrated its recognition of the value of our programming and the high regard we have for our viewers – including AT & T's own customers. "

This is the second very difficult negotiation that AT & T has been conducting with a cable group since the closing of the WarnerMedia acquisition. The first with Viacom was extended because no agreement could be reached before the deadline. Buccieri has expressed concern that AT & T uses its size as an unfair advantage over smaller cable groups.

"Having recently acquired WarnerMedia, AT & T seems to want to use its new position to gain an unfair advantage over its own channels," said Buccieri. "Many, including the US Department of Justice, feared that AT & T had the ability and motivation to discriminate programmers such as A + E Networks and others like us. It seems that this concern has become a reality.

Here is his complete letter:

Dear team,

Sorry to interrupt your weekend, but I wanted you to hear directly from me.

Every day, thanks to your creativity, your talent and your dedication, our networks broadcast some of the best TV shows and serve the public in a unique and thoughtful way. Whether giving women a voice like the recent Survive R. Kelly; build transparency around law enforcement via Live PD or any number of the revolutionary HISTORY series, such as The curse of oak Island or Blue Book Project-The A + E Networks narration brand is distinctive for our viewers. Consumers have more options than ever before and they choose us by the millions because they find a programming and community around our content meaningful and original.

It's a privilege to create content for our viewers. It's our passion. This is also our business. As a business, the content has value. We have a responsibility to our stakeholders to obtain fair value for our content, for your efforts and for the creative community. Now more than ever, we must protect the value of creativity and content. Above all, we owe it to our viewers to make sure we are there for them, by investing in the programs they love and for which they count.

To manage our business well, we need to negotiate fair deals with distributors, who broadcast our programming to viewers. We did it without our portfolio being removed from all the distributor platforms. Few of our peers can do the same thing.

At the moment, we are in the process of negotiating with AT & T, which holds DIRECTV, and as our contract deadline approaches, we are still far from having reached an agreement. While I respect them and respect our long-standing relationship, AT & T has not demonstrated its willingness to negotiate in a reasonable manner. The agreement we seek is based on the same market conditions that allowed us to enter into agreements with many other suppliers. AT & T simply has not yet demonstrated its recognition of the value of our programming and the high regard we bring to our viewers – including AT & T's own customers.

Having recently acquired WarnerMedia, AT & T seems to want to use its new position to gain an unfair advantage over its own channels. Many, including the US Department of Justice, feared that AT & T had the ability and motivation to discriminate programmers like A + E Networks and others like us. It seems that this concern has become a reality.

Millions of homes could be affected and deprived of their favorite programming if AT & T did not carry our networks on their platforms. As a result, we will soon begin to communicate with all our stakeholders about this situation, including our viewers.

Over the past 35 years, A + E Networks brands have played an important and influential role in American popular culture – from the vital HISTORY point of view to the iconic movie Lifetime to reinvent reality and reinvent A & E live storytelling. At the end of the day, AT & T's focus, like ours, will be focused on their consumers.

I realize that many of you, as well as your family and friends, may be subscribing to AT & T or DIRECTV. Feel free to share a link to http://www.keepmychannels.com, which will be updated with news and relevant information.

We will continue to keep you informed of updates. In the meantime, the management team and I ask everyone to stay focused on what you do best: deliver incredible stories, told with the kind of heart and passion that are definitely A & E, HISTORY, Lifetime and all A + E networks.
Sincerely, Paul

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